The Independent Television Commission has said Sky may air live and exclusive coverage of this year's Cricket World Cup.

Due to the event's status as 'Group B', the broadcasting rights "for highlights or deferred coverage of the final, semi-final and matches involving home nations' teams must be offered to free-to-air channels with national coverage."

The ITC said today it was satisfied Sky had given BBC One, BBC Two, ITV1 and Channel 4 "a genuine opportunity over a reasonable period to acquire the right to show highlights or deferred coverage," and therefore gave Sky the go-ahead.